Ping-Pong and Bowling Balls in Debt Reduction and Debt Ceiling Talks

The New York Times National, Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Democrats Vow Not to Take Deal Without Extension of Debt Ceiling, by Jonathan Weisman

Washington–” Senior Democrats said Tuesday that President Obama would not accept any deficit reduction deal that did not include a long-term extension of the debt ceiling… Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader, ad Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democrat, both said they did not intend to complete a major deficit reduction deal only to have Republicans reopen it each time the government bumps up against its statutory borrowing limit.”

Meanwhile, “Conservative Republicans have said they want the debt ceiling left out of any deal so they can maintain leverage on Washington to keep trimming the deficit.”

The tough negotiations are still going on as of this date.

However, “in a speech at the liberal Center for American Progress, Mr. Durbin stll expressed confidence that beneath all the public posturing, progress was being made between the White House and Speaker John A. Boehner, Republican of Ohio, toward heading off the so-called fiscal cliff. ‘We’re playing Ping-Pong up here, but they’re rolling bowling balls under the table,‘ he said.”

Ping-Pong balls are lightweight; to make a point ordinarily takes a lot of back and forth hits, while bowling bowls are heavy and usually hit the pins in one roll.